Pearl Scale, or Ground Pearls

Solution

Feed and Water Properly

Pearl scale, or ground pearls, can cause thinning or dead patches in warm-season lawns in the Southeast and Southwest. Although there are no consumer products available to treat pearl scale in lawns, a program of regular feeding and proper watering can help an infested lawn grow out of the damage. In the case of severe infestations, you may need to remove the sod from damaged patches, replace the soil, and reseed or sod the areas.

Prevention and Maintenance

Prevent Pearl Scale with Good Lawn Practices

The secret to preventing pearl scale infestation is to keep the lawn well fed and watered to encourage vigorous growth, then mow regularly with a sharp mower blade to remove no more than the top third of the grass blades. Washing lawn edgers, shovels, and other lawn tools after use will help prevent the spread of the insects.

Anti-Pearl-Scale Maintenance

To encourage healthy growth to prevent or overcome pearl scale infestations, feed your lawn every 6-8 weeks during the growing season with a quality fertilizer such as Scotts® Turf Builder®. If rainfall isn't sufficient, water the lawn frequently enough to avoid wilt, and water deeply enough for the moisture to reach the roots. By decreasing or avoiding stress on the lawn, you can help it tolerate a pearl-scale infestation and repair itself.

Pearl Scale Defined

Also known as ground pearls, pearl scale is sometimes a problem in bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysia lawns. The insects look like miniature pearls in the soil of infested areas. They suck the juices from grass plants, causing circular patches of dead grass in the lawn. The damage appears in the fall, and damaged areas won't recover until the grass begins to grow again in the spring.